Thursday, October 30, 2014

A woman's experiences as a Civil War soldier

In Flat Creek, New York, feelings of patriotism filled the land in 1862.

Young Rosetta Edwards falls in love with Jeremy Wakefield. They discuss his enlisting in the army as a way to save for their own farm. Being a younger son, he knows that the family farm will go to the eldest son.

Once Jeremy enlists and leaves for military training, Rosetta feels alone. Her love for Jeremy is intense and after she learns that she has even been replaced in her own family, she makes a decision. She used to milk the cows and help at her parent's farm but her father hired someone to help with the farm after her marriage.

With this rejection, brave and impetuous Rosetta, cuts her hair, binds her chest and dresses as a man. Then she follows Jeremy to Utica, New York and enlists as Ross Stone. She claims to be Jeremy's cousin so they are placed in the same company.

Jeremy is torn in what to do and wants to keep his wife from danger but Rosetta shows her courage and disagrees with him. Then she travels to war with Jeremy and the other soldiers.

In a letter to her parents she uses a Bible verse to state that as they say in the Bible, a wife should cling to her husband.

It is heart wrenching to see the love between the two and what they must do to avoid detection. Of course, some of Jeremy's friends knew Rosetta at home but they form a protective band around her.

Problems arise and some are handled with humor such as when the soldiers decide to go for an impromptu swim. They undress to their skivvies and jump in the water. Rosetta must think of a reason why she isn't joining the fun.

The story is told from Rosetta's point of view and becomes more intense when she visits a military hospital and sees what war can do to the severely wounded men. She also had to deal with men in battle when some of Jeremy's old friends thought she was a distraction.

This was a well told story, good characters and vivid descriptions of the scenes. It was still a bit hard to see Rosetta/Ross fooling so many people, many who were gruff and supporting beards.

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Words to think about

Favorite quote;

"Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh."

W. H. Auden

2014 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 Edgar Awards:
Best Novel:
"Ordinary Grace" by William Kent Krueger
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Best 1st Novel by An American Author:
"Red Sparrow" by Jason Matthew
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Best Paperback Original:
"The Wicked Girls" by Alex Marwood

About Me

Went to St Michael's College, Master's in Teaching, Married Diana Bauso, two children, one living, two wonderful granddaughters, Madison and Molly.

Joined Mass Mutual after 4 yrs in USAF leaving as Capt. Retired in 2013.

Novels: "Splattered Blood" and the recently published "Three Strikes and You're Dead," I'm also available for interviews and guest blog posts or as a speaker with a topic, "overcoming adversity" (Since I wrote and published my second novel after diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.) Medicine and prayers have been answered since the cancer is currently dormant.